Reprint of American Legion National NEC Minutes of June 1925
The next order of business is the requesst of Theodor Petersen Post 1 Minnesota Department to retain their Red artillery standard.
FREDRICK D. McCARTHY (Minnesota): Theodor Petersen, Minnesota, is the first post orllganized in Minnesota, and I think the records of the national organization show it was one of the first seven posts in Minnesota to obtain a charter. The post was named after Theodor Petersen in honor of the first Minneapolis man killed the WAR. The back ground of the post is the 151st Field Artillery, of which organization of which Petersen was a member, and the post has carried out its sentiment by electing the first post commanding the commanding officer of Petersen's battery. In the background of th memberhip of that post you will a mayor of Minneapolis and many lawyers and judge.
To carry out this sentiment, when the idea first came up of post banners, they adopted, to carry out their sheme, the red banner in accordance with the artillery standard. Subsequent to that time, long aferwards, this organization saw fit to establish three colors, red for national; blue for the post; and white for department. This is the only post in the coungry that probably has any such background as that and they ask that an exception be made in their case and that they be permitted to retain their red standard for the reasons that I have stated.
I might add that they went along for several years with this red standard and nobody raised any questions and nobody would until they got a very conscientious post commander, and he has forced to refer it back with instructions to present it here. A beautiful sentiment is back of this thing, but these men will naturally give it up unless they are sufficiently authorized to retain that standard. I move that an exception be made in this case, and they be authorized to retain their prsent standard.
(Motion seconded)
ASA W. CANDLER (Georgia): I would like to rise to a point of order. I think this is all out of order because we ratified all of those cases that occurred prior to the Minneapolis convention; ratified all of those actions; just the same as some posts having honorary members; we did that after the Minneapolis convention.
J. MONROE JOHNSON (South Carolina): Whether they have right or not, I insist on the motion. (Laughter)
CHARIMAN DRAIN: Gentlemen, you have heard the motion which has been seconded. Are there any remarks? (The question was called for and the motion prevailed.
